Return to Criteria Map
 
The LESA program has two main components: Land Evaluation and Site Assessment. The land evaluation of a parcel is based
on only one factor: the soils of that parcel. The site assessment depends on three factors: development, farmland, and clustering.
Each factor has a weight which is determined by the individual county. The site assessment factors are further broken down into
criteria determined by the individual county. These criteria are listed below.
          Butler County
Land Evaluation
  Soils 50%  
The soils score is calculated from the amount of each soil type in a parcel multiplied by the value of that soil. The soil values are the same for
every state of Pennsylvania.  
Site Assessment    
Development 10% Farmland 30% Clustering 10%
Road Frontage Points Acreage Points Proximity to Other Easements Points
More than 1 mile 20 Greater than 80 acres 20 Adjacent to easement 40
1/2 mile to 1 mile 10 51 - 80 acres 10 Easement within 1/4 mile 20
Less than 1/2 mile 5 < 50, but 10 adjoins easement 5 Easement within 1/2 mile 10
Easement within 1 mile 5
Availability of Public Water Points Crops, Pasture or Grazing Points
Adjacent to tract 20 90% - 100% 20 ASA Adjacent to Tract Points
Within 1/4 mile 15 71% - 89% 10 100% 20
Within 1/2 mile 10 50% - 70% 5 75% - 99% 15
Within 1 mile 5 Less than 50% 0 50% - 74% 10
More than 2 miles 0 25% - 49% 5
Stewardship Points 10% - 24% 0
Availability of Public Sewer Points On 86% - 100% of tract 20
Adjacent to tract 40 71% - 85% 15 Consistent w/ Comprehensive Plans Points
Within 1/4 mile 20 61% - 70% 10 Designated for ag uses 20
Within 1/2 mile 10 50% - 60% 5 Designated for ag and non-ag uses 10
Within 1 mile 5 Less than 50% 0 Designated for non-ag uses 0
More than 2 miles 0
Historic, Scenic and Envir. Points Consistent with Planning Map Points
On-Site Sewage Disposal* Points Exceptional features 15 Prime farmland 20
61% - 100%  Class I & II soils 40 Significant features 10 Unique farmland, other than prime 15
41% - 60%   20 Favorable features 5 Farmland of state-wide importance 10
21% - 40%  10 Class IV ag capability farmland 5
6% - 20%   5 Century Farm Points
0% - 5%  0 Designated as two-century farm 10
* For municipalities w/o public sewer Designated as century farm 5
Extent of Non-Ag Use Points  Family Income from Farming Points
Develop. adjacent or near vicinity* 20 100% 15
Develop. within 1/2 mile** 10 75% - 99% 10
Scatter devel. within 1 mile** 5 50% - 74% 5
No significant development in area 0 Less than 50% 0
* 10 lots or more commercial/indust. or resid.
** 20 lots or more commercial/indust. or resid.